Acts 20

After the uproar that took place in Ephesus, the Apostle Paul determined to continue with his plan to leave that city, travelling throughout the region with an intention to eventually make His way east to Syria and Jerusalem. During this time we see various names associated with Paul as companions and fellow-laborers in Christ for the gospel. If we add to this the information that we have from Paul’s letters, we cannot help but be impressed with the number of men that were involved in this great mission. There is no doubt that this work was consuming, not only for those who spoke the Word, but also for those who were learning and growing in the church. Why did people give themselves over to such a task, and why did others become so enthralled with the words they heard that they stayed all night to hear what Paul was teaching? This did not happen because Paul was such a great orator or because he had such a clever ministry strategy. It was the message and power of Christ that took hold of these lives.

What was this message all about that so captivated both the speaker and the hearers? We have a very good idea of the answer to that question because of the farewell speech that Paul gave to the elders in Ephesus who came to meet with him in Miletus toward the close of what we know as Paul’s third missionary journey. This message, delivered in humility with tears and in the midst of trials, publicly in larger gatherings, and in the smaller worship settings of individual churches that met in homes, was the message of repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Both Jews and Greeks needed to hear this Word. The needed to hear God’s righteous Law and repent “toward” Him, and they needed to hear of the way of hope for them through a surrendering trust in Jesus Christ. Why was this such a wonderful message for the church? It was a God-focused message that showed forth the Lord’s greatness in both justice and mercy. In this message people heard what was necessary for peace with this great and holy God, and they rested in all the wonder of Jesus the Lord, His blood, and His righteousness.

The time for Paul’s teaching throughout all these regions was coming to an end. There were a large number of others who had been trained in both the Word and the lifestyle of Christian missions. Their day had come. Paul was knowingly heading straight into trouble as he traveled east. He was looking toward the finish of his race, a journey that would eventually take him further west. These other men needed to move forward with the good news of God’s grace in this place. Christ had given this message to Paul, and he was entrusting the message to them, knowing that they might never see him again on this earth, at least not in this age.

After some years of ministry among them, he was able to declare his own innocence. How could any man in such a position declare himself innocent of their blood? Only because He had brought to them the whole counsel of God. Using all of the Old Testament Scriptures, He had proclaimed the gospel of grace through the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. He also used these same inspired writings to press upon His hearers the ethical demands of the life to which Christ has called His followers. For these elders, they had a special duty to care for the flock under their charge, watching out for their own spiritual health, and guarding the church from false teachers, some of whom would even arise from their own number.

At this amazing juncture, which is truly the close of years of missionary effort, Paul commended these men who represented the next generation of leadership for the church in this region to two things: to God, and to the Word of His grace. He commended them to God, knowing that only the Lord could bring about the safety and prosperity of His Kingdom in a dangerous world. He commended them to the Word, because the preaching and teaching of that Word would be the primary tool established by God for the spiritual health of His people. That Word was called a Word of grace, since any interpretation of the Word that turned it into a system of works would be a fundamental misunderstanding of the purposes of God.

Paul had set them an example of sacrificial ministry. He had worked to support himself and those with him. He was a giver, not a taker, as was the Lord he had proclaimed to them. There might be others who would attempt to use their leadership position as a way to get money and possessions, but they knew well that Paul could not credibly be accused of this.

This deeply moving gathering was closed with prayers and tears, as the men knelt together and spoke to God. It was amazing what the Lord had accomplished throughout the provinces of Asia, Macedonia, and Achaia, and this was the man that God used in that day, a unmarried Pharisee, who had been arrested by the grace of God, and pressed into the service of the Man who served His with His own blood. The message that Paul spoke is still the right message today. The God of grace can still be trusted to help those who would be sent out by Him with that great Word. And it is still the right thing for all people everywhere to surrender to His love, giving themselves over to Him in repentance, with faith in our Lord, Jesus Christ.